Minneapolis Running has Retired

After six glorious years, Minneapolis Running has been retired. Between a cross-country move and four young kids, our priorities have shifted to new opportunities and new projects. We want to thank the readers, contributors, and sponsors for all the support along the way. Keep running and remember, you’re probably faster than you think you are!

5 Reasons to Run the Gopher to Badger Half Marathon & 5K

The battle for the border goes back to 1997 at the first Gopher to Badger Half Marathon, but the state rivalry between Minnesota and Wisconsin goes way, way back. Back further than Google could muster. We love the friendly competition of this August event as runners race from Minnesota to Wisconsin in the name of state pride. But it’s not all about competition, it’s also about fun!

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About the Gopher to Badger Half Marathon & 5K

The Gopher to Badger Half Marathon & 5K takes place on Saturday, August 12th. Runners start in Stillwater, MN and finish in Hudson, WI, making it the ultimate race for state rivalry fans. Registration is available online, at packet pickup, and on race day – all of the details are available here. The Gopher to Badger Half Marathon & 5K is limited to 2500 runners, so register soon for this summer race! (Psst…save $5 with promo code: MNRUN17)

5 Reasons to Run Gopher to Badger

Two States, One Race

Ever cross a state border during a race? The Gopher to Badger Half Marathon and 5K both start in Minnesota and end in Wisconsin, allowing runners to take in the scenery of two great states. The race course traverses county fairgrounds, urban neighborhoods, county highways, paved trails, and crosses the St. Croix on the way to the finish line. We wouldn’t describe the course as flat, but the few hills are manageable.

Photo Credit: Walker Athletic Photography

Friendly State Rivalry

Few races start and end in different states, but even fewer have a long-standing history of state rivalry! Gopher to Badger offers to unique opportunity to represent your home state and bring home glory. All participants are able to battle for the border, as the winner is determined by adding up the first five finishers from Minnesota, Wisconsin, and other states. Will Minnesota reign in 2017?

Simple Race Day Logistics

The only thing worse than bad race day weather is a disorganized event! The Gopher to Badger Half Marathon & 5K has been running for twenty years, so race organizers know their stuff!

On race morning, skip the traffic and park at the finish line (Lakefront Park in Hudson) to hop on one of the buses to both the 5k and half marathon start lines. Stress-free parking is widely available in parking lots and streets near Lakefront Park. (Note: There is no parking available at the 5K start. There is parking available at the half marathon start but there will be no bussing back to this location after the event.)

Swag – Stuff We All Get

What’s a race without swag? All participants receive a high-quality t-shirt at packet pick-up and a beautiful finisher’s medal after the race. There will also be a State Spirit Award given to the participant who displays outstanding pride for their state, so be sure to wear your face paint, costumes, or anything that will display your state pride!

Runner-Focused Event

One of the best aspects of the Gopher to Badger Half Marathon & 5K is the runner-focused nature of each event. Few races offer amenities such as referral bonuses or the ability to switch race distances, but the folks at Final Stretch believe race participants come first!

Found a friend to run the race? Use your personal referral code (given at registration) to earn $5 back. Find five friends to run the race? Well, you’ve just earned yourself a cool $25! Plus, if you find yourself injured or unable to complete the half marathon distance, you can easily switch to the 5K for a $5 fee. Finally, a race that understands the unique needs of runners!

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See You on August 12!

Are you running the Gopher to Badger Half Marathon or 5K on August 12th? We can’t wait to show our Minnesota pride!

Krysta is an East Coast turned Midwest transplant currently living in Portland, OR. She runs and trains with the Portland-based Rose City Track Club and is passionate about the communities running creates. Her big, audacious goal is to run a sub-3:00 marathon. More of her writing can be found at ktanwrites.com

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